Calcification of basal ganglia in a patient with partial trisomy 5q and partial monosomy 18q

A patient with partial trisomy for the distal segment of the long arm of chromosome 5 (q35.1 ← qter) with partial 18q monosomy is presented. The mother of the patient was phenotypically normal and was proved to be a carrier of a reciprocal translocation of the long arm of chromosomes 5 and 18 46,XX,t(5;18)(q35.1;q23). The patient shows mild mental retardation, short stature, mild obesity, dysmorphic face, eczema, minor malformations of the extremities, and bilateral intracranial calcification in the basal ganglia. Most of the clinical manifestations of the patient are compatible with the previously reported clinical features of partial trisomy of the distal segment of 5q. However, the calcification of bilateral basal ganglia has not been reported for this chromosomal anomaly.     

Effects of daytime activity upon the timing of REM sleep periods during a night

Abstract The effects of mental and physical daytime activities upon REM sleep cycle (REM cycle) during 1 night was studied in five university students (aged 19–25 years). Mental activity with high tension has effects upon the timing of REM sleep periods in the later part of the night. Physical activity has effects upon the timing of REM sleep in the early part of the night. The result suggests that mental and/or physical activities during daytime modulate REM cycle during the night.     

Relationship between pattern of masticatory path and state of lateral occlusal contact

Summary  The purpose of this study is to clarify whether the state of occlusal contact on lateral excursion is related to the pattern of masticatory movement path. The masticatory movement during mastication of softened chewing gum and the occlusal contact on lateral sliding of the mandible by 1 mm (L1), 2 mm (L2) and 3 mm (L3) were recorded in 50 healthy subjects. The path of masticatory movement was classified into one of seven patterns. The number of teeth involved in the occlusal contact in each pattern was investigated and compared among different lateral occlusal positions. The occlusal contact was then classified into 15 types based on one or a combination of the following four regions; incisal region, canine region, premolar region and molar region. The number of occlusal contact type for each pattern was investigated and compared among patterns. The number of teeth involved in occlusal contact decreased as the degree of lateral excursion increased, and significant differences were observed among the lateral occlusal positions ( P  < 0·001). The occlusal contact tended to decrease in the molar region and increase in the canine or premolar regions as the degree of the lateral excursion increased. When comparing among patterns, significant differences were observed at L2 and L3 (L2; P  < 0·001, L3; P  = 0·030) but not at L1 ( P  = 0·318). The difference was remarkable at L2. It was suggested that the state of occlusal contact at L2 and L3, particularly at L2 was related to the masticatory path pattern.     

Survey of family history on allergy in 1-year-old and 6-year-old children

A retrospective survey of a family history of allergy employing a special questionnaire for children was performed. The survey included 1-year-old (n = 267) and 6-year-old children (n = 410) with allergies as well as 1-year-old (n = 313) and 6-year-old children (n = 329) without allergies. An ‘Allergy Risk Score’ (ARS) for each subject was calculated according to the history of allergy in three family members: father, mother and a sibling. Each family member was scored as 2.0 (overt history of allergies), 1.0 (provable), 0.5 (possible) or 0 (absent), and the ARS of the subjects was calculated as the total of the family members' scores. The ARS of children in the allergy groups was statistically higher than that of the control groups in both age groups. The ARS increased with an increase in the odds ratio (an approximate value of the risk), especially in 6-year-old children. An ARS calculated on the basis of family history could be a useful and practical index for estimating the risk of allergy development in children, and may be helpful in predicting and preventing allergies in infants and children.     

Prostate-specific antigen changes as a result of chlormadinone acetate administration to patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: A retrospective multi-institutional study

BACKGROUND: Antiandrogens used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) may affect the diagnosis of prostate cancer by decreasing serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values. We conducted a retrospective survey of BPH patients treated with chlormadinone acetate (CMA) and analysed the effect of CMA on their PSA values. METHODS: A chart-based, retrospective, multi-institutional survey of clinically diagnosed patients with BPH who had been treated with CMA (Prostal; 50 mg/day) was conducted. The patients were divided into three groups according to their baseline PSA values: <4 ng/mL, Group I; >or=4 ng/mL and <10 ng/mL, Group II; and >or=10 ng/mL, Group III. The changes in the PSA values from baseline after 16, 26, and 52 weeks of CMA therapy were predicted using a nonlinear regression model analysis. RESULTS: Data from 192 of the 303 enrolled patients were analysed. The predicted percent changes from baseline among all patients after 16, 26, and 52 weeks of treatment were -49.6%, -49.8%, and -49.9%, respectively. The corresponding values were -42.4%, -43.7% and -43.8% in Group I; -57.4%, -58.4% and -58.5% in Group II; and -50.6%, -50.6% and -50.6% in Group III, respectively. CONCLUSION: The PSA values reached a nadir, approximately -50% of the baseline, after 16 weeks of CMA administration and remained at the same level thereafter. When CMA is used to treat BPH patients, the possibility of abnormal increases in PSA associated with prostate cancer must be considered; if prostate cancer is suspected, prompt testing, including a biopsy, should be performed.     

Chronic Toxicity Carcinogenicity Studies of Triethanolamine in B6C3F1 Mice

The chronic toxicity and carcinogenic potential of triethanolaminewas examined in B6C3F1 mice. Triethanolamine, dissolved in distilledwater at levels of 0 (control), 1, and 2%, was given to groupsof 50 males and 50 females ad libitum in drinking water for82 weeks. Neoplasms developed in all groups, including the controlgroup, but no dose-related increase of the incidence of anytumor was observed in treated groups of both sexes. There wereno adverse effects as regards survival of the mice, organ weights,and specific incidence of neoplasms in the treated, comparedto the control group. This chronic toxicity test provides noevidence of carcinogenic potential of triethanolamine in B6C3F1mice.